Education
TRCN Seeks Teachers’ Curriculum Review
The Registrar, Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), Prof. Josiah Ajiboye, has called for further review of teachers’ curriculum to meet 21st century demands.
Ajiboye made the call in an interview with newsmen in Abuja last Friday.
He said there was an urgent need for the review to keep Nigerian teachers at par with their counterparts in other climes.
While commending the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) for engaging in review of teachers curriculum in the past years, Ajiboye called for more work to incorporate technology and other things.
“We have been monitoring the activities of the NCCE to ensure that teachers’ curriculum is 21st century compliant and able to deliver 21 teachers.
“I appreciate NCCE for being involved in the process of reviewing teachers’ curriculum for the past three years.
“Colleges of education and university curricular should be at par with 21st century demands.
“The 21st century demands in the area of teaching are on the increase and as such, there is a need for our teachers to have ideas of current realities and demands,” he said.
Ajiboye said that new trends including technology occasioned particularly by the Covid-19 had made further review imperative.
“The Covid-19 has also presented further challenge to teachers in terms of use of technology.
“That is why the need for the review of our curriculum is highly imperative because it is now very clear that our teachers can no longer teach as they were used to.
“We have to put in certain mechanisms to ensure that our teachers deliver 21st century content and they are able to use 21st century pedagogy to deliver their lessons.
“I therefore urge the NCCE to look at what they have done in the last one or two years, especially with the use of technology to promote blended learning for example and how to prepare the teachers for this, “ he said.
The Acting Vice Chancellor of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Port Harcourt, Prof. Okechuku Onuchuku, emphasised the need for students to go beyond academic achievements during the university’s 43rd Convocation ceremony.
The theme, “The University Culture In Practice, The IAUE Experience,” highlights the importance of embracing cherished traditions and intellectual values that define great universities.
Prof. Onuchuku encouraged the new graduates to work hard and persevere, noting that their convocation marks a new beginning in their careers and personal lives. He emphasised that they must prove themselves worthy of the certificates and prizes they have received.
According to him, out of 2,887 first-degree graduands, four made First Class, 403 secured Second Class Upper, 2,030 got Second Class Lower, and 450 graduated with Third Class. Additionally, 1,492 postgraduate students graduated, including 306 PhD holders.
The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (Rtd), praised the university’s commitment to academic excellence and institutional maturity. He commended the Acting Vice Chancellor for achieving full accreditation for 47 academic programmes and implementing the NUC’s Core Curriculum Minimum Academic Standards.
The administrator urged the new graduates to uphold the positive values instilled in them by the university and strive for continuous knowledge and improvement.
By: King Onunwor
The Niger Delta Students Union Government, Rivers State Chapter (NIDSUG), has suspended its planned protest against the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) state office in Port Harcourt. The suspension followed an intervention by the state Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju.
The students had planned to protest on Thursday, citing alleged neglect by the NDDC, particularly in welfare and capacity-building programmes for students from the state. However, after the police intervention, the students agreed to participate in a roundtable discussion with the commission to address their concerns.
NIDSUG leader, Comrade Loveday Njoku, expressed dissatisfaction with the commission’s alleged exclusion of students from benefiting from its programmes. He presented a seven-point demand, including the reintroduction of scholarships for undergraduate and postgraduate students. Njoku emphasised that education is crucial for community development and urged the commission to invest in the future leaders of the state.
The students warned that if their demands are not met, they will resume the protest and occupy the state commission office until their demands are addressed. Despite previous attempts to reach out to the commission’s management team, the students claimed their efforts were unsuccessful.
By: Akujobi Amadi
As part of efforts to improve the welfare and overall quality of education for students in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, the Sole Administrator, Sir (Dr.) Clifford Ndu Walter DSSRS, FCAI, JP, paid an unscheduled visit to Universal Primary School, Rumukwurusi.
During the visit, Sir Walter expressed deep concern over the deplorable state of the school and its surrounding environment. He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the development of the education sector, stressing its critical role in nation-building.
“I have visited the primary school in Ogbogoro, and now I’m here at the Universal Primary School, Rumukwurusi. I am not satisfied with what I’ve seen,” he stated, indicating that more surprise visits to schools would follow.
To address the issues, the Sole Administrator directed the Council Engineer to commence process for rehabilitation of the school.
The visit was part of a broader initiative aimed at conducting on-the-spot assessments of educational facilities to determine the level of intervention required by the local government council.
Dr. Walter also assured the teachers of his unwavering commitment to revamp the school and improve the learning environment for both staff and students.